Meaning of bank In English

• 0 an organization where people and businesses can invest or borrow money, change it to foreign money, etc., or a building where these services are offered:

  • The big banks have been accused of exploiting small firms.

  • I need to go to the bank at lunchtime.

  • I had to take out a bank loan to start my own business.

• 1 sloping raised land, especially along the sides of a river:

  • By the time we reached the opposite bank, the boat was sinking fast.

  • These flowers generally grow on river banks and near streams.

• 2 a pile or mass of earth, clouds, etc.:

  • A dark bank of cloud loomed on the horizon.

• 3 a row of similar things, especially machines or parts of machines:

  • a bank of switches

• 4 A bank of something, such as blood or human organs for medical use, is a place that stores these things for later use:

  • a blood bank

  • a sperm bank

• 5 to keep your money in a particular bank, or to put money into a bank:

  • I used to bank with Lloyd's.

  • She banked £500 in tips that day!

• 6 (of an aircraft) to fly with one wing higher than the other when turning:

  • We felt the plane bank steeply as it changed direction.

• 7 to collect in or form into a mass, or to make something do this:

  • The snow had banked up in the corner of the garden.

  • We banked up the fire (= put more coal on it) to keep it burning all night.

• 8 an organization that holds money belonging to others, investing and lending it to get more money, or the building in which the organization is situated

  • a blood bank

• 9 sloping raised land, esp. along the sides of a river or lake, or a mass of something that has been piled together and has sloping sides:

  • We walked along the river bank.

  • A bank of computers displays the latest weather data.

• 10 to use a bank or put money in a bank :

  • [ I always + adv/prep ] I bank at First National because it’s near where I work.

• 11 (of an aircraft) to fly with one wing higher than the other when turning:

  • We banked to make a left turn as we approached the airport.

• 12 an organization where people and businesses can keep, invest, or borrow money, exchange currencies, etc., or a building where these services are offered:

  • The bank gave me a loan to start my new business.

  • All the major domestic and foreign banks were affected by the crisis.

  • in the bank At that time, we had very little money in the bank.

  • put/pay sth into the bank Your fee will be paid directly into the bank.

  • take sth out of the bank They had taken all of their cash out of the bank.

  • I need to go to the bank at lunch time.

  • The bank has branches in most major towns.

• 13 an amount of something that is kept to be used:

  • Our company offers an unparalleled bank of information on the real-estate business.

• 14 the accepting house :

  • The Bank has kept interest rates at the same level this month.

• 15 to keep your money in a particular bank, or to put money into a bank:

  • bank with sb I've banked with Lloyd's for many years.

  • She banked most of the prize money she had received.

• 16 to earn or win a particular amount of money:

  • The former governor banked more than $135,000 in speaking fees.